Counselling

University Christmas closure - External Support Services

Please be advised the university is closed from 12pm on 24rd December 2025 and reopens on Monday 5th January 2026.


Emergency services

This is the line to emergency services - e.g. paramedic or police. If you feel you are in danger or going to harm yourself, please call them.

  • Call 999
  • Lines are open 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

A&E

The A&E department will have a Mental Health Team who can support you in your time of need.

  • Please go to your local A&E department
  • Open 24/7.

NHS 111

If you are concerned about your physical or mental wellbeing, please contact NHS 111. They will listen and signpost you to the most appropriate place for support.

  • Call 111, open 24/7.
  • In Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Luton, call 111 and press Option 2 - this will go directly to the mental health line crisis support team. You will be able to speak to someone who can then triage your concerns and offer you the best advice, ensuring the right support is put in place.

Samaritans

The Samaritans are a charity who can help people when they need support or who are in crisis. 

National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK

Offers a supportive listening service to anyone throughout the UK with thoughts of suicide or thoughts of self-harm.

  • Open 24 hours a day
  • Call 0800 689 5652 – open 24/7.

PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide)

For young people or someone concerned about a young person (up to 35).

Cruse Bereavement Care

Helping people through the most painful time in their lives.

Opening times

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30am-5pm
  • Tuesday: 1pm – 8pm
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed.

Shout

Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

  • Text “shout” to 85258 
  • 24/7.

CALM (Campaign Against Miserable Living)

If you are feeling suicidal, please reach out and speak to one of the team. 

  • 5-12pm every night of the week
  • Phone 0800 58 58 58

Rape Crisis

“Did something sexual happen to you without your consent? Or you're not sure? No matter when or where it happened, we are here for you – at any time of the day or night.”

Recovery Lounge – Bedfordshire

Mind BLMK Recovery Lounges (formally known as Crisis Café) are open each evening in Bedfordshire and Luton. Anyone from Bedfordshire and Luton is welcome at any location. The service operates from 5pm-11pm 365 days of the year and can support you to get well, stay well.

Opening times and address

  • Monday: The Lighthouse, Whichellos Wharf, The Elms, Stoke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2TD.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Tuesday: The Lighthouse, Whichellos Wharf, The Elms, Stoke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2TD.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Wednesday: Luton Wellbeing Centre, Dumfries Street, Chapel Langley, Luton, LU1 5BP.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Thursday: Bedford Wellbeing Centre, 3A Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Friday: The Lawns Mental Health Resource Centre, The Baulk, Biggleswade, SG18 0PT.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Saturday: Luton Wellbeing Centre, Dumfries Street, Chapel Langley, Luton, LU1 5BP.
    5pm – 11pm.
  • Sunday: Florence Ball House, Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2PU.
    5pm – 11pm.

Talking space - Birmingham

  • The aim of the Talking Space service is to provide a safe, welcoming place where people can go outside of normal working hours, instead of A&E or other urgent services, if they are feeling emotionally distressed or are in a mental health crisis.
  • Open 5pm – 11pm.

The service is available by appointment and Drop-In’s. You can make an appointment by calling 0121 262 3555 or by emailing help@birminghammind.org

Opening times and address

  • Monday: Selly Oak Talking Space (11 Bournbrook Road, Selly Oak, B29 7BL) 5-10pm.
  • Tuesday: Selly Oak Talking Space (11 Bournbrook Road, Selly Oak, B29 7BL) 5-10pm.
  • Wednesday: Selly Oak Talking Space (11 Bournbrook Road, Selly Oak, B29 7BL) 5-10pm.
  • Thursday: Northfield Talking Space (888 Bristol Rd S, Birmingham B31 2PA) 5-10pm.
  • Friday: Northfield Talking Space (888 Bristol Rd S, Birmingham B31 2PA) 5-10pm.
  • Saturday: Northfield Talking Space (888 Bristol Rd S, Birmingham B31 2PA) 5-10pm
    or
    Erdington Talking Space (501 Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7JG) 5-10pm.
  • Sunday: Northfield Talking Space (888 Bristol Rd S, Birmingham B31 2PA) 5-10pm
    or
    Erdington Talking Space (501 Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7JG) 5-10pm.

Islington Recovery Café

The Islington Recovery Café is a service that provides practical and emotional support for those experiencing a mental health crisis. The service is open 365 days a year including bank holidays, and residents in the Borough of Islington can drop in without an appointment.

  • Open 6-10pm Monday-Friday
  • 2-6pm on Saturday and Sunday 
  • Islington Recovery Café,
    Elfrida Society,
    34 Islington Park Street,
    London,
    N1 1PX.
  • Accessible entrance can be found in Purley Place (house numbers 5 and 6), a passage in between 26 and 28 Islington Park Street.
  • Islington.RecoveryCafe@hestia.org
  • Telephone: 07384 117 241.

Crisis Café Hackney (London)

As well as offering a welcome cuppa, the Crisis Café is a safe, supportive and therapeutic place for anyone struggling and not coping with life. It means people do not have to be alone, struggling with upsetting thoughts or worry.

  • The Raybould Centre
    City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health, 
    Homerton Row 
    London 
    E9 6SR
  • It is open from 6pm-9pm Monday to Friday, and from noon-4pm on Saturday and Sundays.
  • Call 073937 62366.
  • 24-Hour Freephone number:  0800 073 000.
  • elft.crisiscafe2@nhs.net 

Crisis Café Milton Keynes

“If you find yourself in crisis or need support with your mental health in the evening we are here to listen and help you in your time of need.”

  • Crisis Café operates 365 days of the year, seven days a week, between 5.00pm – 11.00pm.
  • 226 Queensway, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2TE

Your GP surgery

Your GP surgery can help you with a range of physical and mental health difficulties, please reach out to them if you need to.

  • Please contact your GP in your usual way.

Total Wellbeing

Total Wellbeing supports people living in Luton who want to improve their physical and emotional health.

Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service

The Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service offers a range of free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support to help you feel better.

Birmingham Talking Therapies

Birmingham Healthy Minds is an NHS primary care psychological therapies service for people with depression and anxiety symptoms. Must be registered with a Birmingham GP.

NHS Talking Therapies

If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression.

A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.

NHS talking therapies services offer:

  • Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies and guided self-help.
  • Help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

Find a Talking therapies near you:

Get self-help

Online information that helps people to help themselves. Helps to teach them the tools they need to manage anxiety, etc.

Path to Recovery (Bedfordshire)

Drug and alcohol advice, treatment and support to adults whose lives are affected; support can include the whole family.

Relate

Help with relationship issues

ResoLUTiONs (Luton)

Free, friendly support about drugs and alcohol.

Caraline

Helping those affected directly or indirectly by an eating disorder.

Emerald Centre

Free support and practical help to anyone in Bedfordshire and Luton who has experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse.

Luton All Women’s Centre (LAWC)

Support and advice on a variety of issues.

ManKind Initiative

Support for Male Victims of Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Helping those who have experienced domestic abuse.

  • Phone 0808 2000 247
  • 24/7.

FRANK

Information on Drugs.

Counselling offers you the opportunity to talk in confidence with someone who is impartial and separate from work, social and family life.

We do not aim to solve your problems for you; our aim is to help you find and activate your own resources to resolve your difficulties.

Counselling may enable you to make some changes in your life or think about new ways to manage your situation.

We can help in a wide range of areas:

  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement and Loss
  • Coping with Trauma
  • Concentration
  • Depression
  • Eating Problems
  • Exam Anxiety
  • Helping a Friend in a Crisis
  • Homesickness
  • Insomnia
  • Parental divorce
  • Perfectionism
  • Phobias
  • Procrastination (Putting things off)
  • Rape and Sexual Assault
  • Relationships
  • Relaxation
  • Self-harm
  • Sexuality
  • Stress
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse

If you would like to know more please contact the Counselling Team at counselling@beds.ac.uk

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address

Luton campus & other campuses
Level 2, Campus Centre
Luton campus
LU1 3JU

24/7 SiD Online (student login)

telephone

Student Information Desk (SiD)

0300 300 0042

Our phone lines are open:

  • Monday - Friday
    9:00 – 17:00